Manny Pacquiao in `excellent spirits' despite knockout

LAS VEGAS - It was no surprise that Manny Pacquiao did not attend the post-fight news conference Saturday night at MGM Grand.

Any time a fighter gets knocked cold and falls flat on his face, a trip to the hospital typically is in order.

Pacquiao went to University Medical Center after his shocking sixth-round knockout loss to Juan Manuel Marquez in a welterweight bout in front of a sellout crowd of 16,348. He was checked out as a precautionary measure and passed with flying colors.

"Manny was given a CT scan and the results were negative," Pacquiao's adviser, Michael Koncz, said. "We were in and out in just over an hour and Manny was in excellent spirits."

Pacquiao returned to his suite at The Hotel for a family dinner and to watch the replay of his fight. According to his publicist, Fred Sternburg, Pacquiao said, "Spoiler alert. I don't think you are going to like how this ends," as it was being shown.

Pacquiao (54-5-2, 38 KOs) then had some words for Marquez, who won for the first time in their four-fight series.

"I want to congratulate Juan Manuel," Pacquiao said. "I have no excuses. It was a good fight and he deserved the victory. I think boxing fans who watched us were winners, too."

Pacquiao, who will be 34 a week from today, said he was "fine."

"I am looking forward to a nice rest and then I will be back to fight," he said.

The question is, will it be for a fifth fight with Marquez?

Considering Saturday's fight was a barnburner and sellout and an HBO spokesman told this newspaper prior to the fight that pay-per-view numbers were tracking well, it's not unthinkable.

Directly after the fight Pacquiao and his promoter, Bob Arum, were asked about that possibility. Their reply was, "Why not?"

But Marquez (55-6-1, 40 KOs) would not make any kind of a statement that would make one believe he definitely wants that.

The 39-year-old did say beforehand he would continue fighting if he won Saturday, but he sounded like he just wants to enjoy this victory before making any decisions on who's next.

"Right now, I'm not thinking about any fight," Marquez said. "I just want to celebrate with my family, with my friends."

Marquez was reminded after his third fight with Pacquiao in November 2011 ended with Pacquiao getting a controversial majority decision, he said he might retire. Marquez smiled.

"I'm happy that I didn't retire," he said. "Now I'm happy that the referee raised my hand and happy that I left no doubt."

A reporter asked Marquez if he was aware people were dancing in the streets of his native Mexico City because of his electrifying victory that saw him crush Pacquiao's chin with a counter right cross near the end of the sixth, sending Pacquiao down face-first through the lower rope.

"I would be so happy if I could be there," Marquez said.

Marquez, perhaps understating the obvious, referred to this as "one of my best victories."

After getting knocked down in the third round for the first time in the four fights, Pacquiao rallied and returned the favor with a knockdown of Marquez in the fifth round. It was a thrilling and brutal round, one in which Pacquiao established momentum that carried over into the sixth.

But Marquez had an opportunity late in that fateful round and didn't miss. He swung and hit a home run.

HBO will replay the fight Saturday at 9:30 p.m. ahead of the Nonito Donaire-Jorge Arce super bantamweight title fight from Houston.